A Lot of Letterboxing Love!

Some of the participants in the restoration of Leader of the Pack's CT boxes. Carolyn Stearns is on the extreme right.


I know that CT takes its hits now and then. We do have the largest amount of boxes of any state in the country. And we do find them quite easily - although we don't trip over them as others have said in the talk lists over the years!

Another thing that CT has is a bunch of caring letterboxers. Pinetree had an idea at the beginning of the summer and once she wrote to me about it, I offered to help in any way I could. The idea was to help Carolyn Stearns, Mother Moo or Leader of the Pack, repair and replace her 100 plus boxes. Carolyn is a true letterboxing pioneer and virtually began the bevy of boxes planted in the Mansfield area. CT's proliferation of boxes are a result of 2 people: Carolyn Stearns and our buddy, Jay Drew. Some of Carolyn's letterboxes date back to 2001, which make them a part of CT and this country's boxing history and all the more reason why an effort to repair and replace them was such a worthy investment of time.

A group of boxers from CT began recarving, reconditioning, replanting and reclueing every single letterbox ever placed by Carolyn. Recently, the group met for a mini gathering to celebrate their accomplishment and thank Carolyn for playing such a huge part in letterboxing. A photo from that mini gathering is above. We wish to thank each and every one of them, especially Pinetree and Chuck Straub, for this hurculean effort. My inbox would be inundated every weekend with new clue updates that I would make on letterboxing.org for Carolyn's boxes. My part was the easiest of all - thanks to those of you who hunted every box, scrutinized the clues for changes in terrain or landmarks, recarved broken or missing stamps, restored old logbooks, or dried out and replaced cracked boxes. Your efforts are appreciated!

Finally, this effort is now complete and these boxing gems are now available for your hunting pleasure. Remember that they were very early boxes and some of the clue techniques and hiding locations were those with no precedent! Historical references, appreciation for nature and local lore abound in Carolyn's clues. We hope you will all cherish these little bits of letterboxing history for what they are. And that you appreciate this wonderful placer, and those that took her boxes under their wings to make them available to generations of boxers to come.

Job well done, gang. It was a privilege to play a small part in this wonderful, caring effort!